Reviews

North American Lake Monsters by Nathan Ballingrud

nita88's review against another edition

3.0

3,5

makennahbristow's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

bailey_philip's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

mrpetej's review against another edition

dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Gore, Rape, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

baileykristen's review against another edition

dark fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Definitely too dark for my taste. I'd have rated it lower, except it's so well written that--like a kid watching a scary movie from between her fingers--even though I wanted to put it down, I just couldn't. 

carn17's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

hgatfield's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

marlonaustin's review against another edition

4.0

a surprising lack of north american lake monsters. in fact, i think only one turns up throughout. and its dead.

i do love a spooky short story tho

emelynreads's review against another edition

dark tense

4.5

We got a wide range of "monsters" in this collection from creepy "abundantly male" angels, werewolves, desperate vampires, and people going mad. 

All the stories in this collection are bangers except for 2 (one was okay, the other was just too off putting for my liking).

Nathan Ballingrud has such a way with painting the picture for the reader. Seriously some of the best descriptions I've read. 

This was the perfect collection for the Halloween season!

3rdrate's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.0

This is probably the best book of short horror fiction I’ve read in years. It’s exactly what I love: stories in which the horror elements feel original and well flushed out, without overburdening the reader in detail. The horror just exists, and the world has to adapt by either destroying it or living beside it. Excellent stuff.